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(NoModeL) Q F. MESKER & H. F. EDWARDS.

SHEET METAL, COLUMN. No. 371,089. Patented Oct. 4, 1887...

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n II J iTi zn/ ratorg UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK MESKER AND HENRY F. EDYVARDS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGN- ORS TO MESKER & BRO, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET-METAL COLUMN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,089, dated October 4, 1887.

Application filed June 6, 1887. Serial No. 249,369. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANK MEsKER and HENRY F. EDWARDS, of St. Louis, Missouri, havejointly made a new and useful Improvement in Sheet-Metal Columns, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This improved column is used more especially in architectural work, such as buildingfronts. It is a light, strong column capable of being ornamented as desired and of being safely and economically transported. It consists, mainly, in a combination of sheets and angle-irons disposed and united as follows: The sheets constitute the sides of the column, and the angle-irons are used at the front corners, respectively, of the column upon the outer side of the sheets, one flange of the angle-iron lapping upon the column-side and the other flange of the angle-iron lapping upon the columnfront, thus serving not only to unite the sheets and to protect the joints from the weather, but also to produce a panel upon the column-front and to facilitate the ornament-ing of the column, substantially as shown in the annexed drawings, making part of this specification and exhibiting the most desirable mode of carrying out the improvement, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved column as before being ornamented. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the ornamented column. Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the ornamented column. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, upon an enlarged scale, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are details upon an enlarged scale, being vertical sections of the central portion, the upper portion, and the lower portion, respectively, of the front of the ornamented column. I

The same letters of reference denote the same parts.

The column as it is turned out from the shop I ready for transportation and for the ornamen tation is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5. It consists of the two side sheets, A A, the front sheet, B, the wooden piece 0 between the side sheets at the back of the column, and the angle-irons D D. The wooden piece is secured in place by means of the screws 0. At the back of the columnthereis no outward projectionfromthe side consumer.

plates, A A; but the angle-irons being applied, as stated, to the outer side of the plates A A B, a panel, I), is produced in the front of the column. The portion (2 of the angle-iron at each side of the column also projects from the face of the side plate. The angle-irons are attached to the plates by rivets, as shown. Grosspieces E are preferably added at the top and bottom of the column and at intermediate points. They serve to stiffen the structure and to assist in its ornamentation. The column, as thus far described, possesses qualities which make it much preferable to the cast iron structures hitherto in use. It is not only stronger in proportion to its weight, but is also of a shape favorable for transportation, and by reason of this these columns can be shipped long distances at rates so low as to make them a comparatively cheap article to the consumer. .They can be used in the plain form, but are usually ornamented to give them the appearance of a finished column. These ornamental portions-the base F and the capital G- as well as any minor ornaments, are in practice shipped separately,to be attached to the column by the This is an additional advantage in shipping, there being less liability to injury, and the ornamental portions being capable of being nested, and thus readily transported.

The parts F G H are fastened to the column, preferably in the following manner: The base F is held laterally between the parts (1 d of the angle-iro'ns D D, respectively, and it is tied to the column by means of the boltfl, Fig. 8; and, if desired, the base F may have a strap, f, confined between the cross-piece E and the face of the column. The capital G, Fig. 7, is provided with straps g g, which are respectively confined behind the cross-pieces E E.

The ornament H, Figs. 4., 6, which in the present instance is in the form of two rosettes, h h, united by a strap, h, is attached to the column by passing the strap h between the cross-piece E and the face of the column. The cross pieces are secured to the column by means of a bolt, 6. Angle-irons, as indicated by the broken linesD", Fig. 5, may be used at the back of the column in the manner shown. The piece 0 is preferably of wood, as it is of use in making the connection with theadjoining structure; but in large columns the piece 0 may be of metal; but in both cases the angle-irons D, when used, do not project laterally from the sides of the column.

\Ve clain1 1. The combination ofthe shccts,angle-irons, cross-pieces, and parts F, &c., as described.

2. The combination of the side sheets,A A, the front sheet, B, the angle-irons D D, and the filling-piece O, as described.

3. The combination of the side sheets,A A, the front sheet, B, the angle-irons D D, and the ornamental portions, substantially as described.

4. A sheet-metal column combining in its construction the side sheets, A A, the front sheet, B, and the angle-irons D D, said angleirons being applied upon the front corners, re spectively, of the column, one flange of each angledron lapping upon the front side of said 20 FRANK MESKER. HENRY F. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

O. D. MOODY, A. M. EVERIST. 

